James Wu Man-hon

James Wu Man-hon
Born	Template:Birth date Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Died	February 23, 2006(2006-02-23) (aged 85)
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	Chairman of Hopewell Holdings and Saiweite Industrial Company; member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong

James Wu Man-hon OBE, JP (; born 18 November 1920 – died 23 February 2006) was a prominent businessman in Hong Kong and served as an unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.

Biography

James Wu was born in 1920 in Pokfulam into a distinguished family headed by his father, Wu Chung, the founder of Weatherite Industries and a leading figure in Hong Kong’s taxi industry, often referred to as the "King of Taxi." His brother, Gordon Wu, gained recognition as a major property developer. James received his early education at Dunmei School and King's College, Hong Kong. He initially enrolled at the University of Hong Kong but completed his engineering degree at National Sun Yat-sen University following the Japanese occupation.

After World War II, Wu played a key role in revitalizing the family enterprise, diversifying its operations into sectors such as hospitality, film studios, theatres, real estate development, and air conditioning systems. As chairman of both Hopewell Holdings and Saiweite Industrial Company, he spearheaded extensive infrastructure projects across South China, Thailand, and the Philippines.

His leadership extended to numerous organizations: he was president of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island East, chancellor of Po Leung Kuk, vice-president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, and chaired the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. Wu led Hong Kong’s delegations to five conferences organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East. In his capacity as chairman of the Industrial Development Committee within the Hong Kong-Japan Business Co-operation Committee, he promoted significant Japanese technology transfers related to precision tooling for electronics manufacturing. In recognition of his contributions to HVAC engineering, he was granted permanent membership in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in 1987.

Wu’s public service appointments included positions with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Vocational Training Council, and Hong Kong Productivity Council. He was appointed to the Urban Council in 1968 and joined the Legislative Council in 1972, where he championed infrastructure projects supporting industrial estates. His dedication earned him the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) distinction in 1974.

Additionally, Wu served as deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic prior to its elevation to university status. In recognition of his achievements, he received an honorary Doctorate in Engineering from this institution in 1991. The University of Hong Kong bestowed upon him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1992. That same year, he was honored as an honorary citizen of Guangzhou.